Photo: Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury’s biography

Freddie Mercury (born Farrokh Bulsara) was a British singer of Parsi descent, lead vocalist, songwriter and the ideological inspirer of the legendary rock band Queen.

In the photo: Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury’s childhood

Farrokh Bulsara was born in 1946 in Stone Town in Zanzibar (now part of Tanzania). His father Bomi was a cashier at the British Colonial Office and earned good and the family was in no need.

Farrokh Bulsara (Freddie Mercury) in childhood

When Farrokh was 5 the parents moved to Bombay along with him and his sister Kashmira. The boy was sent to a boarding school 150 km far from the largest city in India, where he came out to be a capable and diligent pupil and was involved in creation and sports. During that period Farrokh was addicted by music: Bollywood singer Lata Mangeshkar made a special impact on him. Later the boy was interested in rock-n-roll. The future musician began calling himself Freddie.

Farrokh Bulsara (Freddie Mercury) in school years

In 1959 the whole family moved to London, where finishing school in 1965 Farrokh entered the eminent Ealing Art College, where he studied design, painting and was interested in ballet. His idols were then Jimi Hendrix and Rudolf Nureyev, to the creation of the first the junior devoted his dissertation.

The Queen times

At the end of his studies Freddie met a Liverpool band «Ibex». Ten days after they first met Mercury already knew the whole repertoire of the musicians, had added some of his own songs to the latter and went for his first ever concert with them within the blues festival in Bolton. Despite the successful appearance and the following concerts the band quickly separated as part of them returned to studies.

Freddie Mercury in young age

In 1970, replacing his former schoolfellow, Freddie joined the members of the youth rock band «The smile» Roger Taylor and Brian May. A year later they were joined by bass guitarist John Deacon and this composition began the 20-year long stellar history of the legendary rock band «Queen», which Freddie offered.

The crest of the band «Queen» was invented by Freddie Mercury

After the end of the formation of the band Mercury created its crest: the coat of arms of Great Britain was underlaying it in addition with images of the zodiac signs of the members of the musical union, namely two lions, a cancer and a virgo.

Queen - «Bohemian Rhapsody»

Mercury played a leading role in the formation of the entire conception of the band including the musical: he’s the author of the overwhelming majority of the compositions e.g. the «Love Of My Life» (1975) lyrical ballad, the unique «Bohemian Rhapsody» as well as the «We Are The Champions» (1977), which became the sports fans anthem.

Queen - «We Are The Champions»

In 1972 Freddie adds to his fictional name the alias Mercury which meant «mercury» or «quicksilver, plastic». The same year the band releases its first album the «Trident», which became popular overnight. The high-quality stadium rock and the variety of genres which the musicians worked in evoked delight among listeners. Many compared them to The Beatles.

In 1972 Freddie adds to his fictional name the alias Mercury

Mercury didn’t limit himself working with the band, he did solo records. His single «Love Kills» as well as the album «Mr. Bad Guy» (1985), which he dedicated to his cats were in the top ten. During long trips on tour Freddie could talk to them not an hour and their portraits were imaged on one of his waistcoats.

Freddie Mercury’s last interview (1987)

Together with Montserrat Caballé Mercury recorded classical opera arias released in the «Barcelona» (1988) record and the title single was honoured to become the 1992 Olympic Games anthem.

Freddie Mercury & Montserrat Caballé – «Barcelona»

Mercury was not only an outstanding musician but an uncommon actor, due to which each concert of the band turned into a real show: his unique, recognizable voice was supplemented with temperament emotionality and plastic. The videoclips of the band became the result of Mercury’s desire to unite theatre and music, sounds and light affects, he was the author of the majority of scenarios for the clips.

Queen - «The Show Must Go On»

The personal life of Freddie Mercury

In the early 70’s Mercury had a long-term relationship with Mary Austin, whom he met through guitarist Brian May. Mary worked as manager in the «Biba» store, which was a place of accumulation of the youth of those times. Seven years later Mercury admitted being bisexual, what put an end to their romance but they stayed close friends until the end of life. Mary was a part of family for Freddie and namely she reported his parents the mournful news during the singer’s unusual fight with the disease.

Freddie Mercury and Mary Austin

Freddie himself often said that he always loved Mary and in other circumstances she would become his wife. He left her most of his 28-million fortune.

In 1985 Freddie started a relationship with hairdresser Jim Hutton which lasted till his death. Hutton nursed him till the end of his days and later wrote a book named «Mercury and Me».

Freddie Mercury and Jim Hutton

Mercury had malocclusion caused by 4 extra teeth. When his career had just started he wanted to fix the occlusion but was afraid that might affect his vocal.

Disease and death

In 1986 the first rumours on his disease with the immunodeficiency virus appeared. The members of the band refuted it hard but Mercury made an official announcement that he had been tested HIV positive and had AIDS a day before death. Incurably diseased Mercury continued performing for five years.

Incurably diseased Mercury continued performing for five years.

On 24 November 1991 Freddie died of bronchopneumonia called by HIV infection. The body of the singer was cremated and as Mercury wanted only Mary Austin knew the location of the ash.

Mercury’s body was cremated

Heritage

Songs that didn’t succeed to be released by Mercury, were included in the «Made in Heaven» album (1995). One of Mercury’s dying orders was to transfer the income from the reissue of the song «Bohemian Rhapsody» in favor of the charity fund fighting against HIV after Terrence Higgins.

In 1992 the former members of Queen gave a concert in honor of Freddie at the «Wembley» stadium and the collected money was transferred to funds fighting against HIV.

At the concert of Queen at the Wembley stadium in honor of Freddie.(20.04.1992)

The band stopped performing for a while but in 2008 Brian May and Paul Rodgers recorded The Cosmos Rocks studio album which held the fifth place in the British album charts. The new tour of the band started the same year which opened the charity concert in Kharkov.

At the concert of Queen with Adam Lambert(2017)

In 2013 and 2016 joint concerts with Queen and Adam Lambert took place, which became annual and covered European and American cities in 2017 and 2018.

Trailer of the «Bohemian Rhapsody» film

The release of the «Bohemian Rhapsody» film directed by Bryan Singer, telling the story of the success of the musical band is planned for the autumn of 2018. Sacha Baron Cohen was approved for the role of Freddie Mercury but he had to leave the project because of disagreements with the guitarist of Queen Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor and the main role was played by Rami Malek.